Molecular Playground/Bacterial Chemotaxis Complex

spinqualitylabelsall models A single asymmetric unit ternary complex with the truncated receptor, CheA, and CheW 3UR1 Show:Asymmetric Unit Biological Assembly Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate   Export Animated Image

One of the CBI Molecules being studied in the University of Massachusetts Amherst Chemistry-Biology Interface Program at UMass Amherst.

Bacterial chemotaxis is a method for cells to sense and adapt to chemicals in their environment. It is carried out by large arrays of membrane associated multi-protein complexes that form at the poles of the cells. The major players involved are the transmembrane receptor, histidine kinase CheA, and scaffold/adaptor protein CheW. Repellants and attractants bind to the periplasmic domain of the receptor. The signal is then relayed within the cytoplasm to govern CheA's kinase activity, and ultimately lead to changes in swimming behavior.

StructureStructure

The transmembrane chemoreceptor (also called methyl-accepting protein, MCP) is a ~380Å long, alpha helical homo-dimer with many domains. The signaling domain at the cytosplasmic tip is both CheW and CheA interact and bind.